Mark
Farris is about to break every A&M passing stat
in the school's record book and has thrown for over
2000 yards in each of his last two seasons.

2002
Outlook

A
few internet polls are circulating and Texas
A&M isn't on the list. They are here
on this list! The Aggies ended the season
slow with some tough loses, but closed out
the Galleryfurniture.com bowl with a big
victory over in state, out of conference
rival TCU. So how many starters are coming
back? Let's just say about everybody. Not
many people realize this, but senior QB
Mark Farris is about to break every A&M
passing stat in the school's record book
and has thrown for over 2000 yards in each
of his last two seasons. All the leading
receivers and rushers are back, basically
so is the kitchen sink on offense. The defense
is led by NationalChamps.net First Team
All-American Sammy Davis at cornerback.
All four top tacklers are back. If coaches
can build themselves a sturdy front on defense,
this team has the potential to shock a few
voters before the season is done. Let's
be realistic, this is the Big 12 Conference.
However, give us a team that brings back
all of these starters from a team that went
8-4 and played in the nation's toughest
conference, and we will put them in the
Top 25 easily. Could the Aggies come in
a perfect 9-0 when the Sooners visit College
Station on November 9? That notion may not
be so far-fetched. As a matter of fact,
it's way better than far-fetched. Texas
A&M will be favored in an early match
up with the Hokies. A game to be concerned
about is the cross-country trip Heinz Field
in Pittsburgh. Look at the home schedule...it's
beautiful for the fans when you talk about
VT, Texas Tech, Nebraska, and Oklahoma,
what an unbelievable season ticket that
will be. Anyone with an adequate football
brain knows how difficult it can be to travel
into Aggie Country and be victorious with
the 12th man kickin'. The big dogs are all
at home. They simply have to upset either
OU or Texas to wrap up the season. If you
look at those tussles since the 1980's,
the thought that the Aggies could extend
a losing streak to three in a row against
these bitter rivals will be looked upon
as unacceptable. Something has to change,
and this is the year to do it. A 10-2 record
before the bowl is very obtainable. If they
don't win at least nine, R.C. Slocum will
be looking over his back. This is a good
season to be wearing the maroon and white.

STRENGTHS:
The Aggies return starters in almost all positions
on offense this year. The most anticipated group
is the returning receiving corp. Although in just
their second season, both leading receivers from
last year's squad are back, Terrence Murphy and
Jamaar Taylor. As an added bonus veteran receiver
Bethel Johnson was given another year of eligibility
after his spleen injury in the second game of
last year. In his two previous years, he was the
second leading receiver. He will provide a huge
spark, and depth to an offense that was struggling
last year. At the quarterback position, senior
Mark Farris will have plenty of targets to throw
to, and is looking to break career passing records
at Texas A&M. There is healthy competition
for the second spot between the listed sophomore
Dustin Long, and the much anticipated Jason Carter.
Either way, the Aggies feel comfortable with capable
backups. The talented young back Derek Farmer
is looking for a breakout season, after gaining
starting experience all last year as a freshman
due to injuries above him. In fact, all four team
leading rushers are back. Senior fullback Joe
Weber, the team's touchdown specialist, is ready
for more smash mouth football. With key positional
players in tact throughout the offense, the scoring
woes of last year are sure to improve with great
strides.

CONCERNS: The Texas A&M offense was ranked
11th in the Big XII last year, with injuries having
plagued the team on many offensive fronts. One
area of concern last year is still the Aggies
biggest question mark this coming season. The
offensive line is relatively inexperienced as
a whole. All but the center position return this
year, a void left by NFL draftee Seth McKinney.
Senior guards Billy Yates and Taylor Whitley really
need to come into their own this final year to
lead the group, and give the quarterback time
to find the receivers. The talent of sophomore
tackle Jaime Hightower hopes to anchor the unit,
and ignite the running game. The offensive line
needs more reps together to build cohesiveness.
Tight end Thomas Carriger is the team's best shot
for improvement at this very thin position. As
a starter last year, he gained much needed experience,
but is still probably a year off from making the
type of impact Aggies will expect. The kicker
slated for 2002 is freshman Todd Pegram, who is
said to have a strong leg, but could fold in pressure
situations. Last season, the kicking kept Texas
A&M out of many games.

TEXAS
A&M 2002 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters in Bold

OFFENSE

QB

Mark
Farris-Sr

Dustin
Long-So

FB

Joe
Weber-Sr

Stacy
Jones-Sr

RB

Derek
Farmer-So

Oschlor
Flemming-Jr

WR

Jamaar
Taylor-Jr

Terrence
Thomas-So

WR

Terrence
Murphy-So

Bethel
Johnson-Sr

TE

Thomas
Carriger-So

Joey
Perot-So

OT

Jami
Hightower-So

Dominique
Steamer-Fr

OG

Billy
Yates-Sr

John
Kirk-Jr

C

Geoff
Hangartner-So

James
Milkavich-Jr

OG

Taylor
Whitley-Sr

Quentin
Holman-Fr

OT

Andre
Brooks-Jr

Alan
Reuber-Jr

K

Todd
Pegram-Fr

Cody
Scates-Jr

2002
DEFENSE

written
by Jeff Davis

STRENGTHS:
The defense is A&M's strong point this coming
season. Ranked 10th nationally last year, the
Wrecking Crew returns seven key members. The top
four leading tacklers, the sack leader, and the
leader in interceptions are all back. The cornerbacks
highlight this unit as First Team All American
favorite Sammy Davis, and junior Sean Weston,
look to shut down opponent's passing games. The
senior strong safety Terrence Kiel, the team's
leading tackler, will look to provide more punishing
hits. This is a solid and deep defensive secondary
group. At the right outside position, Jarrod Penright
is a tough linebacker who penetrated offenses
for 10 1/2 sacks last season, and also led the
team in tackles for loss. Inside linebacker Brian
Gamble, a consistent top performer, seems to have
been on the Wrecking Crew forever. Ty Warren is
a senior at the left end, and is one physical
specimen. Fast and strong, Warren will be blowing
by offensive linemen this fall. On the right side,
junior Linnis Smith is another quick lineman who
will start this year. The Aggie front three have
plenty of quality backups available to use. With
the defense on the field so much last year due
to the offensive break downs, the Wrecking Crew
should have more rest this year with help from
the offense, and be even more formidable than
last year.

CONCERNS:
Replacing two of the three starters on the
defensive line is a concern for this group. Rocky
Bernard, a late round draft pick, leaves the biggest
hole. A new nose guard, sophomore Marcus Jasmin,
will allow Ty Warren to move to end to fill the
void. Jasmin has little experience, but is big
at 317 pounds or so. The linemen will have to
learn quickly how to work together, as tests will
be coming soon on the schedule. Two of the four
linebacking spots on the Wrecking Crew are question
marks and a bit thin. Inside linebacker Jared
Morris is one of those, and playing next to Gamble,
he'll need to improve quickly. On the left outside,
senior Jesse Hunnicutt hopes to avoid those injuries
that have tempered his progression in the past.
Special teams took a hit with the graduation of
free safety Jay Brooks. A big playmaker will have
to step into that role. Junior Dawon Gentry was
the big hitter in the spring game at the free
safety spot, and also received some playing time
last year.

TEXAS
A&M 2002 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters in Bold

DEFENSE

DE

Ty
Warren-Sr

David
Ross-Fr

NG

Marcus
Jasmin-So

Johnny
Jolly-Fr

DE

Linnis
Smith-Jr

Nick
Losada-Jr

OLB

Jesse
Hunnicutt-Sr

Brandon
Johnson-So

ILB

Jared
Morris-Jr

Randall
Webb-So

ILB

Brian
Gamble-Sr

..

OLB

Jarrod
Penright-Sr

Everett
Smith-Jr

CB

Sean
Weston-Jr

Byron
Jones-So

CB

Sammy
Davis-Sr

Ronald
Jones-Fr

SS

Terrence
Kiel-Sr

Eric
Crutchfield-So

FS

Dawon
Gentry-Jr

Jaxson
Appel-Fr

P

Cody
Scates-Jr

..

..

The
Candyman, Sammy Davis, is one of the nation's
premier cornerbacks.